You Can Slow The Flow: At Work

How businesses can contribute

Due to human Development

replacing plants and soils with hard surfaces such as roofs, roads, patios and car parking, rainfall runs off much more quickly, causing surface water and combined sewer flooding, and higher river levels.

Using SuDS to Slow The Flow

in our urban areas, as well as upstream, we can mimic natural water management. Many small changes can have a big combined effect on reducing flood water quantity and quality.

Quick Wins

Be a Water Hoarder!

Help to prevent combined sewer overflows by altering your actions during flood events to discharge less water into drains(as you might in drought – e.g. low-flush loos, use rainwater butts to clean vehicles, dry-sweep instead of hosing…)

are planting areas that are deliberately located where they collect run-off and store it temporarily – they become boggy in downpours. As they are dry most of the time, many everyday plants can cope with the conditions. A layer of gravel below the topsoil helps increase storage capacity.

Rain gardens can collect run-off from paved areas, or take water from the roof via diverted drainpipes. So long as there is a plan for any overflow, they can be built over existing surfaces. Excess water can continue into the existing system, as before.

and blue roofs (without vegetation) can be put on all flat/gently sloping roofs, from large office blocks to bicycle shelters. Professional advice should be sought, to ensure loading and waterproofing are appropriately handled.

Sedum roofs and blue roofs can be lighter than biodiverse planting schemes, which need deeper soil. All can be designed to need very little maintenance.

Training, advice, guidance and support will be given to those joining for the first time!

Due to limited parking at Hardcastle Crags, we must try and limit the number of volunteer cars in the car parks at Hardcastle Crags. If possible, please could you help us help the National Trust with the limited parking by doing one of the following;

1. Can you Car Share with another volunteer
2. Park in Hebden and walk to Hardcastle Crags.
3. Meet us at Hebden Bridge Station at 9.15 am or at car park opposite Hebden Bridge Town Hall at 9.20 on each volunteer day and we will provide a shuttle service. We will also return you back to Hebden at the end of the session around 12.30pm.

Please wear appropriate clothing. NO SHORTS ARE TO BE WORN as we will be working in the forest undergrowth and this will leave legs exposed to the many bugs and ticks in the forest.

Thank you for choosing to volunteer with us. If you have any special needs, please do get in touch and we will do our best to help you get the most out of volunteering with Slow The Flow Calderdale.

Further volunteer guidance including Health and Safety information is available here http://slowtheflow.net/volunteering-guidance-including-health-and-safety/

Read our latest blog on how rain garden planters can make a small contribution to flood alleviation.
These results could have significant implications if lots of people get involved in retrofitting SuDS interventions in their own gardens.
https://t.co/vErMYHFaMr